SONAR 6 features added plus Vista support 02/02/07
Buying Choices
Cakewalk have announced that SONAR Power Studio will be updated with new SONAR 6.2 features. It’s probably best if we let them explain things in their own words, so here we go…
Cakewalk will begin shipping the updated SONAR Power Studio systems to retail starting April 2007. Customers that purchase SONAR Power Studio 25, 66, 250, and 660 systems after February 1st, 2007 will qualify for a free upgrade to the new SONAR Power Studio software with version 6 features. Starting April 2007, customers can visit the cakewalk website to redeem their free upgrade.
Released in April 2006, SONAR Power Studio music production systems offer powerful audio software along with reliable, great sounding audio hardware to form the perfect music production solution. SONAR Power Studio takes minutes to setup,and offers you the same production power found in professional studios—with the freedom to take anywhere.
SONAR Power Studio originally shipped with SONAR 5 Studio Edition software, along with Roland V-Vocal and Amplitube LE. In order to keep current with the latest version of SONAR, which was released in September 2006, Cakewalk has decided to upgrade the software with new SONAR 6 features. New Features in SONAR Power Studio:
Active Controller Technology (ACT): dynamically re-maps effect, mix and instrument parameters to hardware controllers
AudioSnap suite of tools includes:
Non-destructive audio quantize
Quantize one track with another track’s feel
Convert audio beats to MIDI
Slip-stretch clips to a new time or length
High-quality processing with multiple algorithms including iZotope Radiusâ„¢, Percussion Mode, more
Synth Rack makes managing, controlling, and automating your instruments simple
Console view redesigned for ergonomic mixing
Modular Transport provides easy playback control and vital visual feedback
Analyst spectrum analyzer
Automation enhancements: read/write controls for tracks and plug-ins, enable automation during playback and record, visual automation cues, more
Fast Zoom enables fast, precise edits without losing your place
Per-channel EQ and assignable FX controls in Console view and Track Inspector
Clip editing enhancements including lock to time, clip data lock with options for specific attributes (position, duration, both)
MIDI Input Quantize to time-align MIDI as it is recorded to a track, and hear and see the effect of the quantization as soon as the track is looped or played back
Work seamlessly with VST plug-ins: VST support is now integrated into SONAR 6 and no longer requires an external VST to DX adapter
Mouse wheel support for parameter control and zoom
Crash Recovery safeguards your projects against faulty plug-ins and other sources of crashes
Automatic file versioning: back up projects with time/date stamps for easy access to old versions
Score video with Video Thumbnail Track in Track view
Customizable user interface: put favorite features right at your fingertips
User-customizable plug-in menus for easy organization and grouping
Friendly driver naming (user-customizable audio hardware port names)
Custom color schemes with saturation, hue, and brightness controls and color categories for easy customization
X-Ray Windows: Make plug-ins and views in SONAR transparent so that you can quickly access and edit the SONAR views and plug-ins below—all without minimizing, moving or closing windows.
Bit Meter VST Plug-in: See the benefits of SONAR’s 64-bit audio engine in action. A valuable tool for monitoring the digital activity of your audio stream
Native Windows® Vista™ support
Complete Integration
What sets the SONAR Power Studio production systems apart is the uncompromised experience of complete integration between the Cakewalk software and the audio hardware.
With one installer for the software and hardware, auto-setup features, and SONAR’s legendary ease-of-use, you’ll be ready to make music in minutes. And best of all, because this is an integrated solution from Cakewalk, there is one phone number to call for support. Pricing and Availability:
The free upgrade to SONAR 6 Power Studio Edition will be made available through the Cakewalk website starting April 2007 to registered SONAR Power Studio 25, 250, 66, and 660 customers who purchased after February 1st, 2007.
Customers who purchased SONAR Power Studio before February, 2007 will be able to upgrade their SONAR Power Studio software to the latest version for $99/€99/£69. Customers who are only interested in upgrading their Power Studio hardware drivers to add Vista support will be able to download new drivers for free.
SONAR Power Studio 250 has an estimated street price of $449 U.S., SONAR Power Studio 660 is $599 U.S. Both are available at select music and sound retailers today. SONAR Power Studio 250 and 660 will begin shipping with the new SONAR 6 features starting April 2007.
Outside North America, the SONAR Power Studio offerings are marketed as SONAR Power Studio 25 (USB version) and SONAR Power Studio 66 (FireWire version); the software ships with English, French, German, and Spanish versions of SONAR Studio Edition, and the Edirol UA-25 (SONAR Power Studio 25) or FA-66 (SONAR Power Studio 66) audio/MIDI interfaces, all contained within one box respectively. The international versions of the SONAR Power Studio software components have been optimized for the included Edirol Hardware. There is one multi-lingual getting started guide and one User’s Guide that covers both the hardware and software, and customers only need to call one company for tech support.
Available through Cakewalk’s Roland and Edirol distribution partners, Europe's suggested retail price for SONAR Power Studio 25 and SONAR Power Studio 66 are €479 and €669 (including VAT) respectively; U.K. pricing is £329 and £459 (including VAT) respectively; and are available today. SONAR Power Studio 25 and 66 will begin shipping with the new SONAR 6 features starting April 2007. More information: